Service Finder
Apply for voluntary continued insurance in the unemployment insurance scheme
Service Description
Under certain conditions, you can apply for compulsory unemployment insurance so that you can receive unemployment benefit if you become unemployed at a later date. You are entitled to insurance if you
- are self-employed for at least 15 hours per week, or
- are employed abroad outside the EU, the EEA or outside Switzerland for at least 15 hours per week, or
- are raising a child over 3 years old on parental leave, or
-
are undergoing further vocational training and thereby
- are able to advance professionally or
- obtain a professional qualification or
- be able to pursue another professional activity.
The monthly contribution in 2023 is as follows
-
EUR 88.27 (West) and EUR 85.54 (East) for self-employed persons
- In the first year of self-employment and the following calendar year, you only pay half the contribution.
- EUR 88.27 for employees abroad
- EUR 44.14 (West) and EUR 42.77 (East) for persons on parental leave and for persons undergoing further vocational training.
You pay the monthly insurance contribution alone and directly to the Federal Employment Agency.
If you are employed abroad, you must not be on secondment. This means that you must not be working temporarily for a foreign company on behalf of your German employer. Otherwise you would continue to be subject to German social security regulations and voluntary continued insurance in unemployment insurance would not be possible.
If you are employed in another European country in addition to your job, the social security law there applies. It is then not possible to apply for compulsory insurance under German law.
Note: If you end your self-employment or employment abroad and make use of compulsory application insurance, you must make demonstrable efforts to find work again as quickly as possible.
Process flow
You can apply for compulsory unemployment insurance in writing at the employment agency:
- Download the form from the Employment Agency's website online and print it out or have the form handed to you at the Employment Agency.
- Complete the form and attach the necessary supporting documents.
- Submit the application documents to the employment agency. Hand in the completed application documents in person if possible.
- You will be notified of the decision on your application in writing by post. Your compulsory insurance relationship upon application begins on the day on which the requirements are first met, if necessary also retroactively.
Alternatively, you can also submit the application online.
- Go to the website of the Federal Employment Agency. Then call up eServices via the menu, click on "Show all services" and then on "Voluntary compulsory application insurance".
- Here you will find accessible and digitally fillable documents as well as the upload for the application and other supporting documents.
- Download the appropriate application form for your activity and complete it electronically.
- Prepare the necessary supporting documents. Make sure that the necessary evidence is available in digital form. For example, you can take a photo of the documents with your smartphone or a digital camera and upload them as an image file.
-
Log in with your user account.
- If you do not have a user account, you must first register. If you no longer remember your login details, follow the steps on the Forgot username or Forgot password page.
- Alternatively, you can receive an access code for the online portal by post.
- From your user account, you can upload the application for compulsory unemployment insurance and all supporting documents and send them to the Employment Agency.
- Missing documents and changes can also be submitted or notified online.
- You will be notified of the decision on your application. You can find this notification in your profile in the "Notification filing" section - provided you have agreed to online delivery.
- Your compulsory insurance relationship upon application for unemployment insurance begins on the day on which the requirements are met for the first time, also retroactively if necessary.
Who should I contact?
You can find the office of the Federal Employment Agency responsible for you via the office finder.
Competent authority
The office of the Federal Employment Agency in whose district you have your place of residence or habitual abode is responsible. If you do not live in Germany at the time of application or do not have a habitual residence, you should submit your application to the office of the Federal Employment Agency that was responsible for your last place of residence in Germany or for your last employment.
You can find the office of the Federal Employment Agency responsible for you via the office finder.
Requirements
- You were compulsorily insured in the social security system for at least 12 months within the last 30 months prior to taking up employment/working abroad or starting parental leave/continuing vocational training, for example as an employee or trainee, or
- you were entitled to a wage replacement benefit under the Third Social Code (SGB III), for example unemployment benefit, but not citizen's allowance, immediately before taking up employment/working abroad or starting parental leave/continuing vocational training and
- You are neither subject to compulsory insurance nor exempt from unemployment insurance.
- The compulsory insurance relationship is excluded if you were already subject to compulsory insurance as a self-employed person, interrupted your self-employed activity twice and made a claim for unemployment benefit during the interruption periods.
Which documents are required?
General:
- Identity card or passport with confirmation of registration or replacement document or copies of the documents
- Certificate that you have been compulsorily insured in the social security system for at least 12 months within the last 30 months before taking up employment/working abroad or the start of parental leave/professional training (e.g. certificate of employment from your employer)
Special:
-
If you are self-employed:
- Business registration or
- Clear, credible declaration of your freelance activity, including suitable evidence
- For employment abroad: Employment contract
- In the case of parental leave: "Supplementary sheet on periods of parental leave" and notification of parental allowance or childcare allowance
- For further vocational training: Proof of the training institution
What are the fees?
There are no costs.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
Application Deadline: 3 MonthsYou must submit the application within 3 months of taking up employment/working abroad/starting parental leave/starting further vocational training. If the application is received late by the Employment Agency, it is no longer possible to apply for compulsory insurance.
Objection Deadline: 1 Month
Processing duration
Processing Time: 0 - 3 WeeksOn average 3 weeks
Applications / forms
- Objection
- Social court action
Appeal
Forms available: Yes
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: Yes
Author
Federal Employment Agency (BA)
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
- Compulsory insurance relationship on application for unemployment insurance Authorization
Remark: Display of performance in the source portal
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Professionally released on
23.05.2023
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
